Nancy Reagan breaks pelvis in fall at home

October 16, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Nancy Reagan suffered a broken pelvis in a fall at her home and will be hospitalized for several days, her spokeswoman said Wednesday. The 87-year-old former first lady fell last week, spokeswoman Joanne Drake said. She did not seek immediate medical care but decided Monday to get checked out because of persistent pain, Drake said. Doctors at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center determined she had a fractured pelvis and sacrum, the triangular bone at the base of the spinal column. "She's in some pain but in very good spirits," Drake said. Mrs. Reagan was undergoing physical therapy but surgery won't be required, Drake said. She will be hospitalized "for a few days -- until doctors are satisfied with her progress -- and then return home," Drake said in a statement. Recovery is expected within six to eight weeks, she said. Mrs. Reagan apparently got up in middle of the night and fell after twisting on her leg at her home in Bel-Air. She was hospitalized three days in February after a similar fall at the hillside home she shared with President Reagan after their White House years. It was initially feared Mrs. Reagan broke her hip in that fall, but tests determined there was no fracture. Reagan died June 5, 2004, after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.